Does Find My iPhone Work if SIM Card Is Removed? 2023 Full Guide Here!

Posted by Leonard White on Mar 31, 2023 11:35 AM • Category: Unlock iCloud
6 mins read

"My iPhone got stolen upon traveling on a bus. Unfortunately, the thieves removed the SIM card from the iOS device. Does Find My iPhone work if SIM card is removed? Can you help me with this matter"?

Generally, when you lose your iPhone or if someone steals it, Find My iPhone is the brilliant feature that helps you to get back your iPhone without putting in the hard yards. However, if the thief is clever and decides to remove the SIM card from the iOS device to ensure that you can't track the iOS device, finding the lost iPhone becomes difficult.

So, you're not alone in asking, "does Find My iPhone work if SIM card is removed", hundreds of iPhone users tend to ask this question. The good thing is that we'll reveal insightful information regarding your question.

does find my iphone work if sim card is removed

Part 1. Does Find My iPhone Work if SIM Card Is Removed?

Apple developed the Find My iPhone feature to allow you to locate stolen or lost devices. The feature operates through a phone's built-in GPS and online iCloud services combination. For instance, you only need to enter the iCloud account credentials when you lose an iPhone.

After doing so, you can view the location of all the iOS devices linked with the Apple ID. The motive behind the SIM card is to allow you to explore cellular data through 5G,4G, or 3G. If the SIM card is removed from the iOS device and the iOS device isn't connected to the WiFi network, tracking the iPhone via iCloud will be impossible.

However, you can still track your iPhone via the previous owner's Apple ID if you put a different SIM card to your iOS device while connecting it to the network.

The owner of an iPhone can opt for various ways when his lost iPhone comes online. The owner can take several routes, from erasing all content and settings to displaying the custom message on the iPhone screen or locking the iOS device.

Part 2. Can I Track My iPhone if the SIM Card is Removed?

Many people ask whether tracking the iOS device without SIM service is possible. Look, if there is no SIM in your iOS device and the cellular data is switched off, you can track an iPhone when it gets connected to the WiFi network.

Unfortunately, if your iOS device doesn't get connected to the WiFi, the chances of you getting the iPhone tracked are next to zero. You can track the iOS device if the iPhone is online as it transfers the GPS messages to the Apple servers.

Now, the previous owner will be able to know about the current location of the iPhone on the map by logging in with the account on iCloud. An authorized person won't be able to turn off FMI, as whenever he tries to do so, he will be asked to log in with the Apple ID and connect the iOS device to the internet.

So, when he opts to connect the iOS device to the internet, the iPhone owner can benefit from helping him track the iPhone. A thief also doesn't have the luxury of resetting your iOS device. However, if he successfully resets the iOS device without logging out of iCloud and disabling Find My iPhone, you can still track the iOS device.

The activation lock will also create various issues for an authorized user, prompting him to enter the correct activation lock password.

Part 3. How to Turn On Lost Mode When the iPhone Is Lost?

It is one of the worst feelings when you know your iPhone has been stolen. However, you can minimize the damage done to your iOS device by enabling "Lost Mode". Follow the step-by-step guide below to serve your purpose.

Step 1: Launch any web browser and navigate to the official website of iCloud. Next, you'll need to sign in with the credentials Apple ID.

Step 2: Tap on the "Find My iPhone" and then look for all the connected devices. Select the lost device and choose the Lost Mode or Lock. Enabling the Lost Mode implies that now you'll be able to track the lost iOS device.

turn on lost mode when iphone is lost

Part 4. How to Prevent an iPhone from Being Maliciously Locked?

Although the default lock of Apple is sufficient to prevent your iOS device from being locked by unauthorized users, you can take more precautions to increase the security of your iOS device. Here's the list of those security features:

1. Two-factor Authentication

The security of your iOS device becomes even more convenient courtesy of two-factor authentication. This way, when someone tries to log in with your account, he will be dealt with various steps despite having the correct Apple ID login information.

2. SIM Card Lock

When you enable the SIM card lock, your iOS device will only detect the original SIM card. You can enable the SIM card lock by visiting the Settings.

3. Security Questions

Creating security questions is one of the best ways to prevent your iOS device from getting accessed by unauthorized users.

Since you're the person who knows all the answers to your questions, no one else will be able to access the iPhone.

Part 5. How to Turn Off Find My iPhone with TunesKit Activation UnlockerHOT

You decided to sell your iOS device, so you want to disable Find My iPhone to make it easy for the purchaser to access it easily. Unfortunately, you forgot the Apple ID password and are looking for a way to disable Find My iPhone.

Good news: now you can disable the Find My iPhone feature without entering the Apple ID password courtesy of the TunesKit Activation Unlocker.

It is a professional and brilliantly equipped iCloud activation tool that empowers you to erase the activation lock without typing in the Apple ID credentials.

tuneskit activation unlocker

Features of TunesKit Activation Unlocker:

  • Remove the Find My iPhone feature without Apple ID
  • Erase the Activation lock on an iPad/iPhone/iPod without a passcode
  • Comes up with the 100% success rate
  • Offers the effortless user interface
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Step 1Download TunesKit and connect iPhone to computer

Visit the official website of TunesKit Activation Unlocker and launch the software afterward. Next, connect the iOS device to PC and hit the Start icon.

tuneskit activation unlocker interface

Step 2Jailbreak your device

Once you've selected the "Start" icon, TunesKit Activation Unlocker will recognize your device automatically. Next, you'll need to follow the on-screen instructions to download the jailbreak tool, to help you to jailbreak the device.

See more:

How to Jailbreak iOS Device on Mac

How to Jailbreak iOS Device on Windows

jailbreak ios device

Step 3Remove activation lock and fix the issue

After jailbreaking the device, tap on the "Start to Remove" to erase the activation lock, helping you to turn off the Find My iPhone feature from the iOS device.

iphone was lost and erased bypass

Part 6. Conclusion

Those who ask "does Find My iPhone work if SIM card is removed" will have the answer to their questions after reading this spectacular guide.

You can use the Find My iPhone to track the lost iPhone without a SIM card, provided the iOS device is connected to the WiFi network. After tracking the iOS device, you can remove all the information from your device to stop the thief from accessing your data.

Moreover, we've also recommended the TunesKit Activation Unlocker to turn off Find My iPhone if you don't have the Apple ID password.

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